Mr Pugh kindly smuggled us into the Treasury where Chrissie was speaking to Women in the Treasury or W.I.T as it is known. Personally I think Trajectory in the Treasury has a better ring to it and is far less sexist.
For those that have read Chrissie's autobiography she went through much of what had already been said in that. She gave up her very successful career in the Civil Service to become a professional athlete at the age of 30. This girl has balls. She's very straight laced and didn't exactly have us all in stitches, but there was a healthy respect for her epic achievements over the Ironman distance (4 time World Champion at the Ironman to end all Ironmans around the Kona course in Hawaii) in the room. She did also add a good piece on encouraging the media to cover both men's and women's sports more equally and to focus on skill and achievements rather than looks. Fair point.
What she is so clearly aware of is her ability to use her fame and talent to make a positive impact as a role model and ambassador. If only the UK's leading sportsmen could follow suit - yes, this is a gross generalisation as plenty of them provide excellent examples to their young fans - but footballers and some of the rugby team in particular have a lot to live up to.
OK, rant over. The key bit of the evening was getting to shake Chrissie's hand (VERY firm), asking her to sign a poster for TGS and have a team photo taken of which evidence is below. I recommend her autobiography: A Life Without Limits.
L-R: WJD, Emily Gibbs (JK's Lady), HCD, Chrissie Wellington (Legend), JK, Gibson, Pughy.
There was a comedy moment after this first photo was taken when it was suggested that, given our name, we should all have a shot of us kissing our guns. The boys all shuffled off looking embarrassed pretty quickly so it was left to me and Chrissie to model this shot which, to be honest, looks like we're smelling our armpits. Great.
Final exciting bit of the event was Chrissie acknowledging that both the Big and Little Woody competitions are real. My feelings went from relief at realising I hadn't fallen for some internet scam by handing over the £125 entry fee back to fear and dread at the prospect that the forthcoming long course triathlon was going to happen. In 8 weeks. Heck. But surely this is motivation enough?
[unfortunately this is an adobe file and it won't upload: it's a signed poster from Chrissie saying:
"Team Gun Show - there are no limits"]
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